Moscerine Film Festival
The first Italian film festival for directors under 12, in Rome
About Moscerine Film Festival
The festival for young directors
The Moscerine Film Festival is the first and only Italian film festival entirely dedicated to directors under 12. Every year in May, the cinemas of the Torpignattara-Pigneto district in Rome host short films made by children up to 12 years old: a simple yet revolutionary idea that puts the camera in the hands of the youngest and turns their perspective into a true cinematic language.
A project born in Rome's schools
The event is organized by the cultural association Le Moscerine APS-ETS, active since 2014 in teaching photography, cinema, set design, and costume design. The festival, reaching its fifth edition in 2026, has grown by rooting itself in Rome's 5th District and involving the entire territory: screenings and activities connect Torpignattara, Alessandrino, Centocelle, and Pigneto, turning the festival into a widespread itinerary between Cinema Broadway, Nuovo Cinema Aquila, and Largo Venue.
Competition categories
The heart of the festival is the competition, divided into several sections designed to showcase the creativity of the youngest:
- Under 12: open-theme short films by authors up to 12 years old;
- School Focus: video projects created in classrooms and schools;
- At School with Le Moscerine: works born from visual education workshops conducted by the association.
Works arrive from all over Italy and many countries around the world, proving that cinema can tell universal stories even through the eyes of children.
Cinema, inclusion, and visual education
Beyond screenings, the Moscerine Film Festival offers masterclasses, pitch days for young authors, meetings with industry professionals, and moments dedicated to media education. Great attention is paid to inclusion: sensory-friendly screenings adapted for neurodivergent individuals, tactile cinema exhibitions, and accessibility tools support the most vulnerable audience members in collaboration with specialized organizations.
An event for the whole family
In the landscape of cultural events in the Lazio region, the Moscerine Film Festival occupies a unique space: it is both a neighborhood celebration and an international showcase, an opportunity for families, schools, and enthusiasts to discover cinema made by children for children. The award ceremonies, complete with a yellow carpet, close each edition by celebrating young directors and the power of images to unite different generations and cultures.
Moscerine Film Festival — edition 2026
2026 Edition — the fifth
From May 4 to 10, 2026, the Moscerine Film Festival animated the Torpignattara-Pigneto district of Rome with its fifth edition, presented at the Campidoglio on April 28. The program connected three venues in the 5th District — Cinema Broadway, Nuovo Cinema Aquila, and Largo Venue — in an itinerary of cinema, visual education, and inclusion.
Approximately 120 short films from around the world made up the competition, divided into the Under 12, School Focus, and At School with Le Moscerine sections. Among the most significant moments were the Little Glances from Gaza review and a day dedicated to inclusion, with an adapted sensory screening and a tactile exhibition on cinema. The jury, chaired by producer Maria Fares, awarded the Golden Moscerine and special prizes during the gala evenings with a yellow carpet.
Programme Moscerine Film Festival 2026
Day-by-day program
- May 4-5 — Cinema Broadway: activities reserved for schools with the CineInclusione project.
- May 6 — Nuovo Cinema Aquila: opening with "Young Directors Grow Up", pitch masterclass, meetings on short films, and the first pitch day.
- May 7 — Nuovo Cinema Aquila: second pitch day and "Little Glances from Gaza" review; in the evening, the awards ceremony for the School Focus and At School with Le Moscerine sections, with a yellow carpet.
- May 8 — Nuovo Cinema Aquila: day dedicated to inclusion and media education, with sensory screening for neurodivergent individuals and tactile exhibition; evening on the theme "Cinema as a universal language".
- May 9 — Cinema Broadway: afternoon screenings and awards ceremony for the Under 12 section.
- May 10 — Largo Venue: closing party of the festival.
Highlights Moscerine Film Festival 2026
- Artistic direction by Nina Baratta; jury chaired by Maria Fares with guests from the world of cinema and television.
- Approximately 120 short films from around the world, including works from Gaza.
- Special review Little Glances from Gaza (May 7).
- Inclusion day with sensory screening for neurodivergent individuals and tactile exhibition on cinema.
- Special awards: Golden Moscerine for short film and documentary, Magic Lantern Award for animation, Cinema in Pediatrics Award.
Prices Moscerine Film Festival 2026
Practical information — Moscerine Film Festival
How to get there
The festival venues are located in the Torpignattara-Pigneto district, in Rome's 5th District. The Nuovo Cinema Aquila (Via L'Aquila 66/74) can be reached via Metro Line C (Pigneto or Malatesta stops) and numerous bus and tram lines. Cinema Broadway is located at Via dei Narcisi 26, while Largo Venue is at Via Biordo Michelotti 2.
Tickets
Festival events are free where indicated, but booking is required to manage seating, generally through the Eventbrite platform.
Information
Official website: moscerinefilmfestival.it — Email: [email protected]. The Le Moscerine association is active on Facebook and Instagram.
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Where does it take place — Moscerine Film Festival
Nuovo Cinema Aquila
Via L'Aquila 66/74, 00171 Roma